In anticipation of impending lawsuits, a legal defense fund has been launched by friends and family of Ross Ulbricht, the man who has been accused of owning and operating Silk Road, the online black market which was shut down in early October this year. These friends and family members do not believe Ulbricht is guilty of being the Dread Pirate Roberts, but the fact that they are raising money is an indication of the potential legal ramifications of this case. The fund urges contributors to think about the influence this case will have on the future of internet freedom and privacy.

Wikimedia Takes Action against Wiki-PR

Wiki-PR is a public relations group whose services primarily involve advocating for its clients by editing their Wikipedia pages. Wikipedia has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Wiki-PR, stating that Wiki-PR’s activities are not in compliance with Wikipedia’s terms of use. Wikipedia states that Wiki-PR’s services harm Wikipedia’s reputation as a reliable, unbiased resource. A representative from Wiki-PR stated that they are in the process of working something out with Wikipedia, but Wikipedia’s representative stated that while there has been contact, there has not been any negotiation.